When you hear the word ‘conflict’, what images spring to mind? Perhaps it’s harrowing footage from the Russo-Ukrainian War you saw on BBC Breakfast this morning, a parent shouting at their child for not sitting still on the bus, or a racially motivated brawl on the street corner by your office.  

The hard truth is that we don’t just witness or experience conflict in our everyday lives, we contribute to it, too. In our daily lives, we snap at our housemates for not doing the dishes (or, more accurately, our dishes), gossip about our bosses behind their backs, honk our horns at drivers who cut in front of us, and perhaps even pass on our prejudices to our children. As a result of sin, we’re broken individuals living in divided communities in a fractured world.  

With that in mind, is peace really possible? Is there a better way – a more Jesus-like way? 

The answer to that question is a resounding ‘yes’. As those who follow the Prince of Peace, we’re called to be wise peacemakers and agents of shalom wherever we are – to ‘turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it’ (Psalm 34:14). But how do we seek an end to hostility and help our friends, families, neighbours, and colleagues flourish in relationship with each other, and with God?  

Well, by listening to those around us and seeking to understand the tensions that underpin and fuel conflict, we can imagine and create alternative responses. Then, in the power of the Spirit, we can communicate the good news of Jesus and be signs of how the world will look when all is set right. 

Peacemaking in wartime is a complex and overwhelming task, but it doesn’t require professional mediation qualifications. It starts with you, right where you are in your daily life. So, as we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace this Christmastide, how will you be a peacemaker?  

Whether you’re calming family quarrels, reaching out to challenging neighbours and inviting them in for a festive beverage, or consider how you could volunteer your time to an organisation that serve across margins, you can join Jesus in bringing peace, hope, and reconciliation to our broken world. 

Sophie Sanders
Marketing & Communications Lead, LICC 

If you’d like to think more about this topic, join us for our next Wisdom Lab event, Peacemaking in Wartime. There’ll be an expert panel of peacemakers in politics, military strategy, diplomacy, academia, church leadership, and education, each squarely facing war’s consequences in their local context in a Christlike way. It’s set to be a powerful evening full of stories, insight, and advice – we’d love to see you there. Book your tickets here!